'outta the forest, into the forest, outta the forest, into the forest', 2015, installation view

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Juliaan Andeweg views painting as a romantic, contemporary form of alchemy. Hermes, the progenitor of alchemy, is central to his recent work. The mythical character has wings on his ankles, an image recognizable on the outboard motor in the artist’s studio. A video shows two intertwined hands, thumbs twiddling. The motion symbolizes Hermes’ speed, while the zigzag pattern of the fingers refers to the snake. This animal is drawn from the mythological figure’s staff and reappears on a homemade iPad charger.

Andeweg’s art is fuelled by strong philosophical interests. His approach is layered. He is inspired by Hermes the initiate, but at the same time considers himself an urbane individual, someone who loves such worldly things as fast cars and pop music. His use of materials reflects this. He uses base materials such as automotive paint and polyester resin to make art. He uses a similar palette for his vertically folded monochromes.
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